These are sort of rushed catch-up reviews for the novels I was reading/judging during SPSFC #3
By rights, these books deserve deeper contemplation and commentary than this – but my time management failures has left these sitting on the to-do list for so long that, if I don’t just bang these out rapidly, I’m not going to. So! My apologies to those following the competition.
Also, the usual disclaimer applies – I have a very narrow taste profile due to having an extremely overdeveloped inner editor of doom. The problem there is my default mode is to read books to tear them apart and figure out what makes them tick, not find things to discuss that other readers might enjoy. So, y’know. Be aware that when I complain about something, you probably won’t even notice it.
The reviews:
Three Grams of Elsewhere
One of the most inventive set ups for a book I’ve met in quite some time, the retirement age protagonist has clearly led quite the life… and as an apparent murder mystery takes over his life, a thousand neat ideas start popping up throughout the book.
In some ways it was pleasingly a throwback to an era in science fiction that was determined to make some kind of psychicpowers a plausible thing, and with great-feeling world building, none of which was spoiled by the areas I found myself disappointed – the book has so many missed opportunities, and neat concepts are sometimes brought up without really having much done with them.
Ultimately, the book’s clearly exploring itself. And while that comes with some drawbacks, the overall effect is thought-provoking, unusual, and surprisingly heartfelt.
Author’s site is at: https://andygiesler.com/three-grams-of-elsewhere-novel/
Wixon’s Day
This was, in some ways, one of the stranger books of the competition. While it leans fantasy, the more dieselpunky elements and overall setting (and secrets behind that setting) do manage to make it fit – and while much of the book was written with a tense choice I ordinarily DESPISE… I had a good time with this book.
What I can say is that the book’s main subject – an adventure spent wandering amongst canals and waterways – is almost perfectly chosen, given the way this book meanders in strange directions that were hard to predict but still feel natural.
Worth a look.
Author’s site: https://phil-williams.co.uk/
Kenai
An excellent premise with worldbuilding concepts I found astonishing, paired with slightly forced prose and a sense that in some places the book was written while exploring what the book might become, making it feel a little bit uncomplete and rough on the edges.
In a sense my issues with the pacing and that roughness were made outsize simply because of the strength of the premise and concepts behind this book – there is a lot in here that is absolutely brilliant, and I want that brilliance to be reflected across every aspect of this book.
In some ways, this is nearly a masterwork. It may have missed that lofty goal for me, but it’s still a book absolutely worth your time checking out if the blurb or first few pages remotely catch your interest.
Author’s site: https://davedobsonbooks.com/
